Snake and Lizard Bites

Topic Contents

Snake and Lizard Bites

Topic Overview

Poisonous snake or lizard bite

A bite from a
poisonous (venomous) snake or lizard requires emergency care. If you have been
bitten by a snake or lizard that you know or think might be poisonous,
call 911 or other emergency services immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to
develop.

If you are not sure what type of snake or lizard bit you,
call the Poison Control Center immediately to help
identify the snake or lizard and find out what to do next. Medicine to
counteract the effects of the poison (
antivenom ) can save a limb or your
life.

If you do not develop symptoms within 8 to 12 hours, it
is possible that no venom was injected; this is called a dry bite. At least
25%, and perhaps up to 50%, of bites are dry. If poison is released in the bite,
about 35% of the bites have mild injections of poison (envenomations), 25% are
moderate, and 10% to 15% are severe.

It is important to remember
that a snake only injects part of its venom with each bite, so it is still
dangerous after the first strike. A bite from a young snake can be serious. And
a dead snake, even one with a severed head, can still bite and release venom by
reflex action for up to 90 minutes after it dies. Even if you do not develop
symptoms within 8 hours, continue to watch for symptoms for 2 weeks or more.

Nonpoisonous snake or lizard bite

Most snakes and
lizards in North America are not poisonous. Bites may be frightening, but most
do not cause serious health problems. A bite from a small nonpoisonous snake
might leave teeth marks, a minor scrape, or a puncture wound without other
symptoms. Home treatment often relieves symptoms and helps prevent
infection.

Although most nonpoisonous snakebites can be treated at
home, a bite from a large nonpoisonous snake (such as a boa constrictor,
python, or anaconda) can be more serious. In North America, these snakes are
found in the Florida Everglades and zoos, but they may also be kept as exotic pets. The force of the
bite can injure the skin, muscles, joints, or bones. Other problems can occur
with a nonpoisonous snake or lizard bite even if the reptile is small. A snake
or lizard's tooth may break off in a wound or a
skin infection may develop at the site of the
bite.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and
arrange for care.

If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have
one, seek care in the next hour.

You do not need to call an
ambulance unless:

You cannot travel safely either by driving
yourself or by having someone else drive you.

You are in an area
where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

You may need a tetanus shot depending
on how dirty the wound is and how long it has been since your last shot.

For a dirty wound that has
things like dirt, saliva, or feces in it, you may need a shot if:

You haven't had a tetanus shot in the past 5
years.

You don't know when your last shot was.

For a clean wound, you may
need a shot if:

You have not had a tetanus shot in the past 10
years.

You don't know when your last shot was.

Pain in adults and older children

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain
is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and
can't do anything else except focus on the pain.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your
normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days.
Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's
there.

Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain,
but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example:

You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk (mild difficulty breathing), or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all (severe difficulty breathing).

It may be getting hard to breathe with activity (mild difficulty breathing), or you may have to work very hard to breathe even when you’re at rest (severe difficulty breathing).

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and
illness. Some examples in adults are:

Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease,
and HIV/AIDS.

Long-term alcohol and drug
problems.

Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety
of conditions.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for
cancer.

Other medicines used to treat autoimmune
disease.

Medicines taken after organ transplant.

Not
having a spleen.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that may occur quickly
after a sudden illness or injury.

Symptoms of shock in a child may include:

Passing out.

Being very sleepy or hard
to wake up.

Not responding when being touched or talked to.

Breathing much faster than usual.

Acting confused.
The child may not know where he or she is.

Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur
after a sudden illness or injury.

Symptoms of shock (most of which will be present) include:

Passing out.

Feeling very dizzy or
lightheaded, like you may pass out.

Feeling very weak or having
trouble standing.

Not feeling alert or able to think clearly. You
may be confused, restless, fearful, or unable to respond to questions.

Symptoms of infection may
include:

Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in or
around the area.

Red streaks leading from the area.

Pus draining from the area.

A fever.

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind
of care you may need. These include:

Your age. Babies and older
adults tend to get sicker quicker.

Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart
disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care
sooner.

Medicines you take. Certain
medicines, herbal remedies, and supplements can cause symptoms or make them
worse.

Recent health events, such as surgery
or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them
more serious.

Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug
use, sexual history, and travel.

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

Severe pain (8 to 10): The
pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries
constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or
grimace.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is
very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds
when you try to comfort him or her.

Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds
when you try to comfort him or her.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction
(anaphylaxis) may include:

The sudden appearance of raised, red areas (hives)
all over the body.

Rapid swelling of the throat, mouth, or tongue.

Trouble
breathing.

A severe reaction can be life-threatening. If you have had a
bad allergic reaction to a substance before and are exposed to it again, treat
any symptoms as an emergency. Even if the symptoms are mild at first, they may
quickly become very severe.

Home Treatment

Poisonous snake or lizard bite

If you were bitten by
a snake or lizard that you know or think is poisonous, call 911 or other emergency services immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to develop.
Symptoms may progress from mild to severe rapidly.

If you are not
sure what type of snake or lizard bit you, take a picture of it. But do not do
this if it will delay treatment or put someone at risk for more bites. Do
not waste time or take any risks trying to kill or bring in the snake. Only
trap a poisonous snake if the chances are good that it will bite more people if
you let it go. It is important to remember that a snake only injects part of
its venom with each bite, so it can still hurt you after the first strike. And
a dead snake, even one with a severed head, can bite and release venom by
reflex action for up to 90 minutes after it dies.

Medicine (
antivenom ) to counteract the effects of the poison can
save a limb or your life. Antivenom is given as soon as a doctor determines it
is needed, usually within the first 4 hours after the snakebite. Antivenom may
be effective up to 2 weeks or more after a snakebite.

Immediate home treatment

Immediate home treatment
should not delay transport for emergency evaluation.

If you think the snake bite is an emergency, call 911.

Remain calm and try to rest
quietly.

If you are not sure what type of snake or lizard bit you,
call a Poison Control Center immediately to help
identify the snake or lizard and find out what to do next.

Remove any
jewelry. The limbs might swell, making it harder to remove the jewelry
after swelling begins.

Use a pen to mark the edge of the swelling
around the bite every 15 minutes. This will help your doctor estimate how the
venom is moving in your body.

Avoid these treatment measures

Avoid doing anything
that might cause more problems with the snake or lizard bite.

Do not cut the bite
open.

Do not suck on the bite wound or use
any kind of extraction device.

Do not use a
constriction band, such as a tourniquet or bandage, on a
bite.

Do not soak your hand or foot in ice
water or pack your arm or leg in ice. This can increase damage to the skin and
cause a cold-induced injury, such as frostbite.

Do not raise the bitten arm or leg above your head. This may increase the
flow of venom into the bloodstream.

Do not drink alcohol.

Do not give any
prescription or nonprescription medicines after a poisonous snake or lizard
bite unless your doctor tells you to. Some medicines, such as aspirin,
ibuprofen, or naproxen, may cause increased bleeding.

Nonpoisonous snake or lizard bite

If you are certain
the snake or lizard was not poisonous, use home treatment measures to reduce
symptoms and prevent infection.

Look at the wound to make sure a snake or
lizard tooth is not in the wound. If you can see a tooth, remove it with
tweezers, taking care to not push it farther into the wound.

Clean
the bite as soon as possible to reduce the chance of infection, scarring, and
tattooing of the skin from dirt left in the wound. Wash the wound for 5 minutes
with large amounts of warm water and soap (mild dishwashing soap, such as
Ivory, works well).

Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen
peroxide, iodine, or Mercurochrome, which can harm the tissue and slow wound
healing.

Soak the wound in warm water for 20 minutes, 2 to 4 times
a day, for the next 4 to 5 days. The warmth from the water will increase the
blood flow to the area, which helps reduce the chance of
infection.

Puncture wounds usually heal well and may not need a
bandage. You may want to use a bandage if you think the bite will get dirty or
irritated.

Clean the wound thoroughly before putting
the bandage on it.

Apply a clean bandage when it gets wet or
soiled. If a bandage is stuck to a scab, soak it in warm water to soften the
scab and make the bandage easier to remove.

If available, use a
nonstick dressing. There are many bandage products available.

Be
sure to read the product label for correct use.

Use of an antibiotic ointment has not been shown
to affect healing. If you choose to use an antibiotic ointment, such as
polymyxin B sulfate (for example, Polysporin) or bacitracin, apply the ointment
lightly to the wound. The ointment will keep the bandage from sticking to the
wound. If a skin rash or itching under the bandage develops, stop using the
ointment. The rash may be caused by an allergic reaction to the
ointment.

Symptoms to watch for during home treatment

Prevention

Snakebites are more likely to occur in
warm-weather months when both snakes and people are more active outdoors. Most
snakebites occur on the fingers, hands, and arms when someone is working with
or trying to catch a snake. The legs and feet are also common bite sites; these
bites usually occur when a person (especially a child or a hiker) accidentally
disturbs a snake.

Snakes and lizards are popular exotic pets, so
the risk for being bitten has increased.

Many snake and lizard
bites can be prevented.

Find out what local snakes and lizards are found
in your area. Learn what they look like, whether they are poisonous, and where
you are most likely to see them.

If you see a snake or lizard, do
not bother it. Keep in mind that the striking range of a snake is about
two-thirds of its length.

Do not pick up or handle snakes. Even a
dead snake can bite and release venom through reflexes for 90 minutes or more
after it dies.

Watch for snakes around wood or rock piles or caves.
Wear protective shoes, boots, and clothing when you are hiking, camping,
fishing, and hunting.

Do not drink alcohol or use illegal drugs
while doing outdoor activities where you might encounter a snake. The effects
of the alcohol and drugs may slow your judgment and reflexes.

If
you have a pet snake or lizard or are thinking about getting one, learn how to
handle it safely to avoid being bitten. Find out what first aid supplies you
will need if you are bitten, and have them handy.

If you are often in an area where there are poisonous snakes,
consider carrying a first aid kit. Carry a cellular phone, if you have one, to
call for help if you are bitten.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the
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